Indian Columbus

The 0.75-acre waterbody in Jeyachandran Nagar is not officially designated as a lake, yet locals refer to it as Jeyachandran Lake. This area, once an unknown extension of the Pallikkaranai village, has now transformed into a posh residential locality. Recently renovated, a park now surrounds the waterbody, making it a favored walking spot for residents. Happy travelling. Note:  As per a report, there were about 650+ waterbodies in the Chennai region till the 1980s. Today, only a fraction of them exist. Most of those surviving waterbodies hardly have water, and even some of them that have water had been poorly shrunk. In Chennai, there are tank roads without tanks nearby and lake-view roads without any lake in the vicinity. There is a high possibility that even the few water bodies we have today might vanish soon. I thought of visiting the currently surviving waterbodies of Chennai and its suburbs and write about them in my blog as a series.

Dating back to the 1300s during the illustrious Pandya era, this temple in Tirunelveli stands as a hidden gem, its secrets waiting to be discovered. Renovated in the 1700s, this grand structure located in the Thachanallur locality holds within its walls a remarkable sight: a towering green-colored Stucco image of Lord Vishnu, known as Varam Tharum Perumal. Flanking him are two divine consorts, Sree Devi depicted in a light-colored stucco image and Bhoo Devi in a green-colored stucco image. The ancient origins of the temple are evident in the weathered outer walls, adorned with friezes of lions (Simha vari) along the upper portions. Five shallow niches without any icons add to the temple's enigmatic charm. Above these niches, the Yazhi torana boasts intricate bas-relief images, with Narasimha gracing the west side and various postures of Krishna adorning the remaining four. As you enter, you'll be greeted by the sculptures of Rama and Lakshmana, standing sentinel at the threshol...

When the whole of Tamil Nadu is familiar with the grand twin temples of Kantimati and Nellaiyappar in Tirunelveli, it's a lesser-known fact that another pair of temples by the same names resides in the Thachanallur locality of Tirunelveli. Historically referred to as Thachanoor, meaning "the place of carpenters," this village is believed to have been home to the sculptors who crafted the magnificent Nellaiyappar and Kantimati temples in Tirunelveli town. They established a Shiva Linga here for their daily worship, naming it Shalivadeeswarar or Nellaiyappar after the main temple. Locals regard this temple as the original, calling it the Aadi Nellaiyappar temple. Thought to date back to the 11th century, this temple's age is not clearly inscribed. Adhering to the typical style of Tirunelveli, the entire structure is whitewashed, making it challenging to pinpoint its age based solely on sculptures or architectural features. I've heard there are stone inscriptions and...

In the lesser-known village of Keezhakkallor near Tirunelveli, stands the ancient Puraveli Nathar temple , a topic I've covered before. Nearby, there's the Kasi Vishwanatha temple, estimated to be around 150-200 years old. What catches the eye in this small temple is the vimana atop the main shrine—a circular Vesara style structure made of brick and mortar, resembling the domes seen in Islamic architecture. The temple enshrines smaller images of Shiva Linga and Devi, known as Kasi Vishwanatha and Visalakshi, respectively. Alongside them, the temple houses representations of Ganesha, Subramanya, Shaneesvara, Bhairava, Surya, Chandra, and Chandikeswara. The path for circumambulation within the temple is remarkably narrow. The unique design of the vimana raises intriguing questions. Could it have been influenced by a nearby mosque, or is it simply an unconventional architectural choice? The mystery adds to the allure of this charming temple. Happy travelling.

Keezhakkalloor, a secluded village near Tirunelveli, holds a hidden gem that once supplied vital offerings to prominent temples in the region. Let's delve into the intriguing history of Puraveli Nathar temple. Known for yielding the high-quality Kodakan Samba rice, Keezhakkalloor and its neighboring villages caught the attention of Rajaraja Chola I. Impressed by the rice's longevity and taste, he decreed that one-sixth of their cultivation be offered as tax, known as Puravu vari, to the Dhenupureeswarar temple in the village. This rice was then distributed to revered temples such as Sankaran Kovil, Sri Vaikuntham, Papanasam, and Brahmadesam. As Lord Shiva of this temple assumed the role of a revenue officer, locals began referring to him as Puravu Vari Nathar, eventually evolving into Puraveli Nathar. Legend has it that a miraculous cow would regularly milk at a specific spot. When its owner aimed a stone at the cow, it accidentally struck a bleeding stone. Upon investigation, ...

Romasa Maharishi, the grandson of Lord Brahma and disciple of Sage Agastya, embarked on a divine mission under his Guru's guidance. He placed nine flowers into the Tamraparani River, each marking the spot where he installed a Shiva Linga. These nine temples, collectively known as Nava Kailasham, hold profound significance in the Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur regions. This article zooms in on Kunnathur, the fourth Nava Kailasham temple, intricately linked with the shadow planet Rahu. Situated just one kilometer away from the renowned Mela Tiruvenkatanathapuram temple (the Southern Tirupati), and a mere 300 meters from the Keezha Tiruvenkatanathapuram temple, lies the ancient Shiva temple. The picturesque village is Kunnathur, also known as Chenkani or Keezha Tiruvenkatanathapuram. At its heart of the temple stands a moderately sized Shiva Linga named Gotha Parameswarar, adorned with a sarpa rekha, in the east-facing sanctum. Known by other names such as Nageesar and Kailasanathar, thi...

Chenkani, a quaint village situated just one kilometer away from Mela Tiruvenkatanathapuram on the banks of the beautiful Tamraparani river, also known as Keezha Tiruvenkatanathapuram, is home to the ancient Varadaraja Perumal temple.  Gaining access to this temple isn't straightforward; devotees often wait for hours for the priest to unlock its doors. On a lighter note, it is a practice that has endured for centuries. Legend has it that some 700 years ago, a king seeking the deity's darshan faced a similar predicament when the priest was absent. In a twist of fate, Vishnu himself assumed the role of the priest, guiding the king into the temple and conducting the rituals, thus safeguarding the priest. Hence, Vishnu earned the title Vazha Vaikkum Perumal, symbolizing the deity who ensures his devotees' safety and well-being. Vishnu, called Varadaraja Perumal here, is in the standing posture. The four-armed deity is flanked by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Notably, Vishnu's rig...

Counting the stars in the sky may prove elusive, but attempting to enumerate the exquisite temples adorning the banks of Tirunelveli's radiant Tamraparani river presents an equally daunting task. Among these treasures lies the picturesque village of Manur, home to the grand Ambalavana Swami temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, where tales of divinity intertwine with local lore. Legend Legend has it that within this village resided a sage known as Ambalavanar, blessed with divine visions of Lord Shiva in His Nataraja form. In reverence to this encounter, the temple's principal deity bears the sage's name, Ambalavana Swami. Another narrative recounts the arrival of Karuvur Siddha, a sage endowed with the power to summon Lord Shiva with a mere invocation of His name. In a moment of vexation, Siddha cast a curse upon the Tirunelveli temple, rendering it barren. However, Shiva, in the form of a radiant light, appeared to Siddha in Manur, leading to the temple's restoration and th...

Nestled on the banks of the enchanting river Tamraparani, Tirunelveli is a treasure trove of distinctive and captivating temples, and among them, the Ambalavana Swami temple in Manur stands out. While I've previously explored two remarkable aspects of this temple in my articles, the exquisite wooden sculptures within its sacred precincts remain an overlooked marvel. In a landscape where numerous narratives have delved into the legend and history of this site, the intricate wooden sculptures deserve their own spotlight. Gracing four distinct slabs in two rows on either side of the Nataraja sanctum's front, these artistic creations of 1700s offer a unique dimension to the temple's charm. Join me as we delve into a list and attempt to identify these captivating wooden sculptures, complemented by corresponding photographs.  The first slab facing the west side has the below listed nine sculptures. Check my earlier article on this  link , where I have accompanied the list with al...

Nestled on the banks of the enchanting river Tamraparani, Tirunelveli is a treasure trove of distinctive and captivating temples, and among them, the Ambalavana Swami temple in Manur stands out. While I've previously explored two remarkable aspects of this temple in my articles, the exquisite wooden sculptures within its sacred precincts remain an overlooked marvel. In a landscape where numerous narratives have delved into the legend and history of this site, the intricate wooden sculptures deserve their own spotlight. Gracing four distinct slabs in two rows on either side of the Nataraja sanctum's front, these artistic creations of 1700s offer a unique dimension to the temple's charm. Join me as we delve into a list and attempt to identify these captivating wooden sculptures, complemented by corresponding photographs.  The first slab facing the west side has the below listed nine sculptures. Check my earlier article on this  link , where I have accompanied the list with al...